Written by Guy Hibbert, based on the book
“Colour Bar,” by Susan Williams.

Directed by Amma Asante.

GRADE: B
REVIEW:

When we Americans think of “race relations,” we often
conjure up images of riots, police brutality and antiquated segregation.
Perhaps we also ignore the reality that other countries in faraway places we
never heard of go through similar challenges, albeit with different
circumstances and outcomes. On such untold story comes from the country of
Botswana, a small African nation located on the northern border of South
Africa. It’s the story of Seretse Khama and his wife Ruth, an interracial
couple from the mid-20th Century that changed the fate of a nation,
and set a standard for peace and equality during a troubling time in the world.
The Khamas’ story is told in this week’s release of A United Kingdom.

David Oyelowo plays Seretse, the heir to the throne of
Bechuanaland (now Botswana). While studying the law in London in the late
1940s, Khama meets and falls in love with Ruth (Rosamund Pike), and English
secretary working for Lloyd’s of London. The couple marry, but not before
Ruth’s parents disown her and Seretse’s uncle Tshekdi (Vusi Kunene) threatens
to divide the tribe. After the marriage, the Khamas travel to Africa, where
Seretse convinces a majority to accept him as their king, even though they are
not sure about having a white woman as their queen. The British government,
serving as protectorate of the African nation is not too pleased about the
Khama matrimony either, and dispatches Alistair Canning (Jack Davenport) and
Rufu Lancaster (Tom Fenton) to try and convince the Seretse to abdicate the
throne or face harsh consequences (both characters are fictional, but are more
than likely a hyper-sinister mashup of several Brits and the very real Lord Salisbury,
an underling of Winton Churchill). Seretse and Ruth refuse, prompting Canning
to exile the king from his own country. Meanwhile, Ruth becomes pregnant and
gives birth to the couple’s first child. Seretse is forced to live in England
away from his wife, child and countrymen until he can convince enough politicians
to allow his return. Seretse is finally allowed to return home to meet with his
uncle, where he makes a last-ditch effort to save the country (and its
resources) from British imperialism or nearby South African Apartheid.

A United Kingdom is primarily a love story
and secondarily a procedural political/historical drama. Such themes tend to
bog down the film’s pacing, relying on a lot of political debate and
unjust bureaucracy. The inclusion of all that bureaucratic garbage renders the movie a little more tedious than mot
love stories/political dramas. Oyelowo and Pike are both marvelous in their
roles, and are supported by a talented supporting cast, the cartoonish
depiction of the snobbish British villains notwithstanding.

Despite these cinematic trifles, A United Kingdom is
good story about how one loving couple was able to overcome antiquated
prejudice and racism to build a nation. It may not be a story that's very "sexy" or exciting, but it's a relevant tale in a world that seems to grow more divided each passing day.